Brandon Steele's Mountain West Power Rankings: The Steele Stocks.

1. Boise State Broncos : Ranked #25 in the national rankings and rightfully so, the defending Mountain West champions had their way with the Utah State Aggies. A 42- 13 win proved that this Broncos team with their returning talent, can be extremely dangerous and explosive on offense. Khalil Shakir had seven catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns in this game, making his case as the best wide receiver in the conference. 

2. Nevada Wolf Pack : The number two spot could have easily been flip flopped just in terms of who was going to win last Saturday's battle between the Pack and the Wyoming Cowboys. In what was the best game from the Mountain West conference in week one, Nevada quarterback Carson Strong showed leadership and maturity leading his Wolf Pack to an overtime victory, Strong was named Mountain West player of the week with his 420 yard and four touchdown performance. 

3. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors : The number three spot took some time because I am not one to jump the gun on teams beating up on teams that are not on the same level as their opponents. But, in this case the Rainbow Warriors found themselves in a bit of a dog fight with the Fresno State Bulldogs. What is most impressive to me is, the deceptiveness of the option scheme that Hawaii runs. Chevan Corderio had 13 rushes for 116 yards with two touchdowns, along with Miles Reed putting up a 109 yard performance, the Rainbow Warriors are a difficult team to stop on the ground. 

4. Wyoming Cowboys : Much like I said above, I will not jump the gun on teams that looked great against lesser competition. Wyoming showed up late to the party, but at least they showed up. A very strong second half was huge by Wyoming to force the game into overtime. Levi Williams showed tons of fight with his three total touchdown performances and on a day where the Cowboys do not slug themselves out of the gates they very well remain a top five team in this conference. 

5. San Diego State Aztecs : In a dominant win over the Rebels the Aztecs did not blow me away offensively even though they put up 34 points. What jumped off the page was the Aztec defense, they staunched the Rebels only allowing 186 total yards and Caden McDonald’s eight tackle, two and a half sack performance showed to be the best efforts from a San Diego State player since 2017. 

6. San Jose State Spartans : Speaking of good defenses, hard to look past San Jose State, they found themselves in a slugfest with the Air Force Falcons but were able to give the Spartan offense more chances to win the game. This is a gritty performance from the Spartans and a lot to build off behind quarterback Nick Starkels 22 for 29, 226 yard two touchdown and one interception game, with the most important stat being the win. 

7. Utah State Aggies : The Aggies were beaten by Boise State but a week one game against the defending champs and the way the Broncos got into a rhythm, left no questions that Utah State was in for a long day. This does not discredit that Utah State can still be easily one of the best teams in the whole conference. Jaylen Warren rushed hard all game into the big blue Broncos defense, a tough 89 yards and two touchdowns is the type of effort that if the Aggies get out of their backfield on a weekly basis they will find ways to control the game.  

8. Air Force Falcons : The Falcons were involved in this football game with San Jose State the whole first half, but it is apparent that if the Falcons can not get a run game going in the red zone. That Falcon games will be nothing but an uphill battle as they were held scoreless up until the fourth quarter on Saturday against the Spartans. Still if the Falcons find a groove on the ground they have been proven competitive, check back to that first win against Navy where the Falcons ran wild for 369 yards.

9. Fresno State Bulldogs : A valant first half effort by the Bulldogs, heading into the half it was only a four point deficit but the Bulldog turnovers became costly. Four total turnovers, three interceptions off the arm of starting quarterback Jake Haener, the Bulldogs will need to tighten up the screws and protect the football if they want to remain in games, that quite frankly started off pretty close. 

10.  UNLV Runnin Rebels : Well, this is awkward. . . 

The Rebels fell to the Aztecs and the offense frankly could not get going. Held to 186 yards, six points and swapping through three different quarterbacks is not the recipe for success in a conference game. But, for coach Marcus Arroyo this is his first starting gig and with the 2020 coronavirus year, he has to find a way to get his quarterbacks live reps to see who he wants to roll with on game days. Could be Max Gilliam, who was able to go 13 for 20 for 105 yards and the only touchdown for the Rebels. But, who knows as coach Arroyo will shuffle the deck in search for this year's starter. 

Colorado State has yet to play, they will play Thursday against Fresno State. 

New Mexico State has yet to play, they will play Saturday against San Jose State.